On the evening of March 1, the 31-year-old physician was on his motorcycle driving along Barangay Maranding Annex in Japatagan, Lanao del Norte when an unidentified gunman fatally shot him at the back.

Perlas, who served under the government’s Doctors to the Barrios program, was deployed to the marginalized and underserved area of Sapad in Lanao del Norte in 2012. Although he had the option to stay in his hometown, Perlas decided to continue serving the community after seeing its needs.

Photo Credit: marichulambino.com

Photo Credit: marichulambino.com

Born from a middle class in Batan, Aklan, Perlas earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Doctor of Medicine from the West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Medicine as well as Masters in Public Management from the Development Academy of the Philippines.

Photo Credit: marichulambino.com

Due to financial limitations during his medical education, Perlas became part of the Bagong Doktor para sa Bayan of the First Gentleman Foundation and eventually fulfilled his service agreement for his medical education scholarship by joining the Department of Health’s Doctors to Barrios program.

Aside from serving the community, Perlas was active in several medical missions and emergency response teams at Northern Mindanao’s regional health office. He also successfully advocated for the renovation of the old rural health unit, which received medicines, supplies and equipment through his help.

Days after his death, the Department of Health announced that they will give a posthumous “Bayani ng Kalusugan” to Perlas. The said award aims to honor individuals and organizations who have given time, effort and a part of their lives in moving the Philippines to Universal Health Care.

On Monday, March 6, several medical health professionals wore black clothes, pins and ribbons to express their indignation for the murder of Perlas.

Suspect killed by police

An unidentified suspect in the killing of Perlas was shot dead by members of police and military operatives in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte on Saturday, March 4.

After authorities served the arrest warrant issued by Judge Alberto Quinto, known hired gunman and suspect Agapito Tamparong allegedly attempted to escape and lobbed a grenade when the arresting team tried to corner him. Authorities retaliated by firing at Tamparong, causing his death.